North Jetty (Hikkaduwa) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on the table for North Jetty over the next couple of weeks. Straight up, I’ve got to be honest with you – this is a rough stretch. There’s not a single day in the 16-day window that I’d genuinely recommend paddling out. The numbers are all reading “poor surf conditions” or “marginal” at best, and the wind is just relentless from the west, blowing cross-onshore or straight on more often than not. It’s a tough run, and for a spot like North Jetty (Hikkaduwa), which needs that clean SW groundswell to really shine, we’re not getting it. The water temp is sitting at about 84°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s small comfort when the waves are ugly.

Looking at the first few days, starting Saturday the 11th, we’ve got some waist-to-chest high swell at about 6ft from the WNW, with a period of 11 seconds. The combined energy is strong at 1651, but that west wind is howling at 12 mph right on it, so it’s going to be blown out and messy. It’s a no-go. Sunday and Monday just get worse – wind picks up to 16 mph, the swell drops off, and we’re looking at cross-onshore chop. Not worth your time.

We hit a real lull from around Tuesday the 14th through to the 18th. Swell drops to under 3ft, periods get long (15 to 18 seconds), which is beautiful groundswell energy, but the direction shifts to SSW. That’s actually good for North Jetty, but the problem is the wind. It’s still cross-onshore or onshore from the west, so the surface is going to be junk. The energy is moderate (around 500-700), but the quality is just not there. There’s a long gap here with no real recommendations – about five days of flat, choppy nothing.

Then, come the 19th of July, we see a bit of pulse. Sunday morning pops up with about 5ft from the WSW, but the period is a pathetic 6 seconds. That’s windswell, not groundswell, and the energy is low at 486. It’s onshore too. Not your wave.

Now, here's the one that almost gets me excited – Monday the 20th. We’ve got a solid 5ft from the SSW with a period of 18 seconds. That is proper long-period groundswell, and the combined energy jumps right up to 1521. For North Jetty, a SSW groundswell is the optimum direction, so on paper, this is the standout of the whole outlook. BUT – the wind is still onshore from the WSW at 16 mph. If that wind shifted just a little, this would be the one. As it stands, it’s a promise that the ocean couldn’t keep. It’s rated as marginal, and I’d only say this is one for the experts to even look at, given the size and period. The wave quality is likely to be too straight for a beach break, but at a point like North Jetty, that long period could wrap in nicely if the wind ever relents. It just doesn’t.

After that, the rest of the week into the 26th is more of the same – onshore westerly wind, moderate swell energy, and poor conditions. The last week fades out with some knee-to-waist high junk. Honestly, this is one of those blank spells where you just have to wait it out. The forecasts can change, but right now, save your energy. There’s nothing worth paddling for.

Rusty.

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